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Parking Garage Owner Commits Suicide After He and Jay Leno are Sued
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 23, 2008
Modified Oct 23, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 23, 2008
Modified Oct 23, 2008
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Last week, descendants of Macy's founder Isidor Straus sued Jay Leno and a NYC parking garage owner, claiming they had swindled the late John Straus out of his antique cars. Now, the Post reports that Dennis Ricca, co-owner of the Windsor Garage on East 76th Street, shot himself in the head last week--and a mourner blamed the lawsuit. The Straus family insisted that Ricca's garage took advantage of the ailing Straus, but a lawyer for Leno, Ricca and others blamed Straus for non-payment his account and said auctioning the valuable cars off was their right. Still, the Strauses claim it was a "sham auction" since Leno was able to buy a 1931 Dusenberg worth $1.2 million for $180,000 and Ricca bought a Rolls Royce Phantom worth $500,000 for $0. Ricca and Leno's lawyer said, "We hope the press will respect his family and let them grieve in peace."
Tagged
antique car
Dennis Ricca
jay leno
John Straus
suicide
Windsor Garage
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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